19th Century Harmonium in Moscow (VSTi)

[matsoljare]

Are there any makers of these high end, double manual harmoniums active today?

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Mats,

Sorry to say but sadly there are none - It really bums me out. I read about the history of piano making in Sweden. There was once over 300 hundred makers of pianos in Sweden - Now there is not a single one - All having disappeared in the early part of the 20th century.

Cheers,

CD

[Ghekorg7]

Blessed Panos,

Yes! Chamber orchestras with portatives and continuos do make for a wonderful sound palette. Yes again, Hauptwerk is quite a wonderful antidote to the *toaster builders*(toaster=electricorganbuilderswidelyknown ).

Frankly, I'd rather have an adequately spec'd 3manual/pedal harmonium than a 3manual/pedal toaster. However, when Hauptwerk began distributing their Cavaillé-Coll at Caen sample set I understood this as an acceptable compromise(oh how I loathe and despise that word).

May one day I'll track down enough info so that I can build my very own 3manual/pedal harmonium - yes, with two 32' stops in the pedal and one 32' in the manuals

Cheers,

CD

From the bottom of my heart I wish that you get this instrument exactly as you want it to be, br CD, and this to be soon !!!

My home organ is a toaster Yamaha el900, the best toaster of 1998, you could buy a house or a car with the money spent for one, then...
But as it is very difficult in Athens to play a real pipe, then came the...as you call it correctly, Antidote - Hauptwerk and his small sister GrandOrgue.
For me it was a great gift, exelent sound going out just from a pc (with good studio speakers I got) and as I considered as a Midi wizard, I can have full control of it almost like the real thing (considering some limitations of my toaster and the fact that my first instrument is the piano).
This "almost like the real thing" doesn't disturb me much for is imposible for me to get a real one of course , or to be with one everyday and play it anytime I feel like to.
So yesterday night I played with my favorite Italian organ, the one in St.Carlo, Brescia of 1600, for five long hours of enjoyment, thanks to Martin and his child.

Anyway br.CD, to return to our thread here.
Question : Do you have someone specialist in mind to adopt this great task to build this 3m/p harmonium ?
You'll have to put some elecricity in, or strictly acoustic?
When it's ready someday, I'll wait for a demo with you playin'it and feel your joy from it ! Like the trumpet menuet you linked.

Peti case.Indian Harmonium (Moscow to N.Delhi !!)
From their site I gotta pictcha
What you think ?

Dream on br.
Panos

[Corno Dolce]

Blessed Panos,

Actually, I would like to build the harmonium myself. Of course, it will be built on the pressure system. No, I won't add any effects, just straight on acoustic.

Now I must confess a grievous sin to you: I have not shared about something called a *Vocalion* - I think of it as a harmonium on steroids

Anyway, here it is:

www.comune.pisa.it/valdesiapisa/vocalion.htm

And here's a Vocalion Society link:

www.sgeinc.com/~franktau/index.html

Cheers,

CD

[wljmrbill]

Interesting insturtment the Vocalion.. wonder if there are any audio files?

[Ghekorg7]

Blessed Panos,

Actually, I would like to build the harmonium myself. Of course, it will be built on the pressure system. No, I won't add any effects, just straight on acoustic.

Now I must confess a grievous sin to you: I have not shared about something called a *Vocalion* - I think of it as a harmonium on steroids

Anyway, here it is:

www.comune.pisa.it/valdesiapisa/vocalion.htm

And here's a Vocalion Society link:

www.sgeinc.com/~franktau/index.html

Cheers,

CD

Br.CD you're great !
Exactly the thing I want ! how can I get one?

Exellant continuum to this hot, as it goes, thread and a perfect link to the stories told here some posts above !

Pier-Luigi's familly was connected with F.Liszt (!) and he probably played the Vocalion in Firenze. Perfect. And the thing is an American built (another hit) very close to Harmonium and was at familly's home

Hi Bill,
as I read, the vocalion in under restoration..so, obviusly we have to wait after it's ready and can listen to something...
....unless br.CD can dig - up some extra rare old 78prm recording of it (!!!) with a very special player. who knows...?

Guys, another thing I read :
Each of the three manuals can split (as a modern kbd). This thing I have seen it usualy on single manual/limited compass padals small organs as a conveniant solution to play works for two manuals (with clever registration - instead of hohl8' on the left pull a flute4' and play the left hand part an octave lower - prestan8'/sesquialtera on the right hand theme part).
But this vocalion, with split , can come with six manuals !! Fantastic.

to be continued...
Cheers
Panos

[Corno Dolce]

Br. Panos,

You probably are aware that the vocalion in question had been shipped to Italy as a 3man/42 register instrument. Thanx for your kind word - I really don't know if I'm great but I do thrive in collegial participation for to investigate, process the forensics, and disseminating the findings. As to the poikilorgue I seem to be unable to link a picture or gravure of it on this thread. So, one can do an image search on Google.

To be continued...

Cheers,

CD